Oleson wants more budget scrutiny at Linn County

Supervisor Brent Oleson thinks a year is too long to let the county budget go without a formal review.

The supervisor from Marion wants the Board of Supervisors to review Linn County department budgets each six months, by withholding half the budget until department heads give an account of their spending in September or October.

“It's ridiculous that we spend so little time on the budget,” Oleson said. “Instead of just handing the money over in July, we'll only hand half of it over.”

Historically, the supervisors have reviewed budgets in January and February, certified the county's budget - $121 million this year - in March and turned their attention largely to other tasks for the rest of the year. The fiscal year starts in July.

Oleson envisions requiring short, written updates from department heads in the fall, and getting oral presentations from departments that have explaining to do. He argues that budget approval is the Board of Supervisors' primary job.

“When it comes to the statute, it's pretty much budgeting - that's our main obligation,” he said.

Colleague Jim Houser agreed with Oleson at Monday's supervisors meeting. Ben Rogers, Lu Barron and Linda Langston said they like the idea, but they need more time to think about it and make sure they don't create unnecessary work for department heads.

“We're all sort of interested in exploring it,” Langston said. “What doesn't create the most problems, but gets us the most bang for our buck?”

Langston suggests it might be wise to require quarterly budget reports from departments and to call managers for meetings if their reports raise questions.

The supervisors will revisit the matter in a public meeting March 23.